Helena, mother to Constantine, the Roman emperor, set out on a journey to go to the city of
Jerusalem. It was in her heart to find the cross where Jesus died. She told her servants that she wanted them to look for His cross. They found a mound of trash and rubbish around the foot of Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, where Jesus had died.
In the midst of that waste heap, there were three crosses. They also came upon the inscription plaque that was nailed above Jesus’ head: King of the Jews. It was lying in a separate place, so there was no way for the men to identify the true cross.
There was a minister in Jerusalem whose name was Maarius. When he heard of the pilgrimage and the effort of Helena to find the cross, he related to her, “We will test the real cross and find out which one it is.”
The men gathered all the people in the vicinity who were sick and suffering and brought them to the place where Jesus had died. After having the people positioned, they brought one of the crosses and touched the sick with it. Nothing happened. None of the sick were healed; no blind eyes were opened; deaf ears did not hear.
So, they took the second cross and touched the people. Still, nothing happened.
Finally, they took the last cross they had recovered. When they placed that cross upon the people, blind eyes began to open, deaf ears began to hear, and the lame leaped for joy. Those who were sick were healed. Maarius turned to Helena and proclaimed, “The true cross of Christ still works today.” This cross that Jesus died on is the manifestation of God’s plan of love and redemption for us.
